Celebrate Halloween In New & Low Risk Ways to Support COVID Prevention

This year, keep your friends and family safe by celebrating Halloween in new and low risk ways that support COVID prevention habits.  Wear a mask that provides a double layer of fabric over the nose and mouth, keep six feet from others, be outdoors instead of indoors, keep social circles very small and wash your hands. Remember, COVID-19 prevention measures are most effective when used together.  Safer options this year include a costume parade, movie night or scavenger hunt with just your own family or household. See a list of ideas below.........and have fun and be safe, Homer!

LOWER RISK ACTIVITIES

• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside with members of your household or with neighbors or friends (at a safe distance).
   
• Decorating your house, apartment or living space.
   
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with or a virtual Halloween contest.
   
• Setting up a trick-or-treat scavenger hunt with household members in or around your home instead of going house to house.
   
• "You got booed" where you leave a goodie bag for friends and neighbors on their doorstep. Like ding-dong-ditch, then you put a sign in your window that you've been booed. 

MODERATE RISK ACTIVITIES

• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard).
   
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.
   
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where mask use is enforced and people can remain more than 6 feet apart.
   
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart.

HIGHER RISK ACTIVITIES (avoid these activities to prevent the spread of COVID-19)

• Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door or crowded Halloween events.
   
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors.
   
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together and screaming.
   
• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky behaviors

Additional Resources for a fun, non-traditional COVID-safe Halloween: 

Alaska DHSS blog - The challenge is on: Parents, this is the year to put a new spin on trick-or-treating!

CDC guidance - Trick or Treating and Other Halloween Activities